Volume 1

The climate of London, deduced from meteorological observations, made in the Metropolis, and at various places around it / by Luke Howard.

  • Howard, Luke, 1772-1864.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The climate of London, deduced from meteorological observations, made in the Metropolis, and at various places around it / by Luke Howard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    worth notice, the index (which is never put back again in this case, but left in its place) points out one of the Extremes to be noted, and the radius the other. It is rare that such changes happen i-n the night, or more than once in the twenty-four hours. To obtain a true Mean for this period, it would be needful to put down a considerable number of observations. In re-printing my Tables, I have given the extremes only; purposing hereafter to make use, in another way, of the Medium heights, which were printed for several years in a third column: and the same, as to the medium heights of the thermometer. I have possessed for some years an eight-day Astronomical clock, having a Barometer connected with it, made in lybb, by Alexander Gumming, and which, on the decease of that excel¬ lent mechanic, his family allowed me to purchase by a valuation. This curious instrument records, by means of a pencil supported on the quicksilver, and traversing a revolving scale, the move¬ ments of the Barometer throughout the year; requiring for this purpose little more attention than the regular winding up of the Clock. When I bought it, there was a latent defect in the bear¬ ings of the escapement, which for a long time gave me consider¬ able trouble, the false beat which it occasioned coining on at uncertain intervals, during which the going was incorrect. This I have at length discovered and remedied; and as I can now put full confidence in the reports of this Automaton, I shall probably give them to the public at intervals, with remarks. [This has been done as to a small portion only: the whole, to 1830 inclu¬ sive, are contained in this Edition.] In the mean time I may observe, that the advantage it confers on a diligent observer, with respect to the Extremes of movement, is less than might have been expected. These may be got nearly as well, with daily attention, in the way I have mentioned, from a good Barometer alone: but in the case of absence from home, in that of great depressions, which may have their crisis in the night, and for studying the succession and character of the different movements, it is a most valuable assistant.